From the experiences developed in our country, useful inputs emerge for a reflection on the concrete impacts that self-recovery can have on the construction of public policies aimed at the maintenance of vacant public housing estate. There are many difficulties - of an economic, financial, temporal and management nature, of investment and commitment - opposing the construction of favourable conditions to the extensive use of these practices. However, no less are the opportunities that they offer to the innovation of processes and procedures. Even though those of self-recovery are highly selective ‘niche’ operations with regard to social demands and spatial assets, they strongly encourage the public actor to recalibrate its role: between direction and governance of complex processes, and openness to the many resources and skills carried by tenants and the third sector.Keywords: Self-recovery; public direction; feasibility